PO Box 20872 Oakland, CA 94620
oaklandcasters@hotmail.com
Meet Our Board
Glen Ozawa
President
Ensuring that The Oakland Casting Club will continue to be a vibrant, productive organization…. That is my goal. I am forever indebted to this club for improving my casting, leading me to new fishing destinations, and forging friendships of a lifetime. I hope that other members will have similar experiences. In my free time, I am an optometrist at Castro Valley Optometry Group and an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry.
Ralph Hardin
Vice President
I first arrived at the Oakland Casting Club in 2008. I had never fly casted before, and it was very intimidating. However, with the help of instructors such as John Wurzel (R.I.P.), I was able to improve. I am also indebted to Chris Korich for always being more than willing to take me to the next level and beyond. The Oakland Casting Club has become my escape, my home away from home. It’s just a great place to hang out and practice the skill of fly casting.
Andrew Szeto
Treasurer
I have been a member of The Oakland Casting Club since 2012. Being a part of the club has not only made me a better caster but has also allowed me to develop great friendships with other members of the club. It is an honor and privilege to serve as the treasurer for a club that has given me so much.
Elaine Gong
Secretary
Since joining in 1988, I have been actively participating in all aspects of The Oakland Casting Club, and credit the Club and its great members with keeping me involved in competing, teaching and serving in many positions on the OCC Board. My casting achievements include setting National Records in Bass Bug and 3/8th oz. Plug Accuracy, as well as winning several Senior Women All-Around Championship and Senior Women All Fly Accuracy awards at ACA National Tournaments. I enjoy teaching fly and plug casting for our Public Casting Lesson sessions, as well as for young teens participating in the Redwood Heights Summer Program. My philosophies toward Fly Casting and Fly Fishing are simple: learn casting fundamentals from The Oakland Casting Club experts, continue to improve using correct techniques and always practice catch-and-release fishing. These guidelines will serve you and the environment well while ensuring your enjoyment of this wonderful sport.
John Thiele
Tournament Director
On a picturesque spring day, I watched a man elegantly cast on an Eastern Sierra stream and instantly recognized his technique and skill were far better than others. It was simple and beautiful and I immediately wanted to learn. Soon I found the ponds and the OCC (not knowing both were but 5 minutes away from me for 20 years!) and joined in 2010. In the pursuit, I have learned something from everyone at the ponds and am indebted to all. The generosity has been amazing.
Tournament casting started as a way for me to keep sharp for fishing in the off-season (I’m a three-season fisherman)… and it does. However, I soon found myself enjoying the challenge, competition and camaraderie. I’m proud to take on the task of Tournament Director and look forward to spreading the enthusiasm, growing the participation, and enabling everyone to perform their best.
Chris Korich
Board Member
Since 1937, members of The Oakland Casting Club have won hundreds of National and World casting titles and set many records in the process. Equally impressive, our members have made huge contributions to casting technique, instruction, tackle design and fly line standardization that has helped millions of anglers around the globe. Fortunately, the club’s cumulative angling, casting and equipment expertise continues to be shared freely at our wonderful casting pools, with possibly the best year-round practice weather on the planet! As the longest benefitting member since 1970, I feel a deep obligation to serve OCC and share what I can with new members and future generations of champions and tackle innovators.
Alice Gillibert
Board Member
I have been a member of The Oakland Casting Club for 30 years. Why? The members are a great bunch of people. Fishing with the family and on the club trips is great fun even when fishing is not the best. Helping with casting lessons, especially with the young people, is a really satisfying experience. I have also been involved with the tournaments, winning a few awards locally and nationally. The club will always be important for its members and the community.
Ken Deleray
Board Member
I’m retired from a career in construction, so I have a lot of time to spend on fly casting and fishing. I fish around the Tahoe area and in the Southern Sierras. The club has casting games about twice a month, in addition to fly tying and fishing trips. We also give casting lessons in the spring and summer.
Charlie (Arata) Kobata
Board Member
I have fished most of my life, giving up bait and ocean fishing since retiring from the auto repair business, some 10 years ago. Working part-time at Fish First to support my “habit,” I have been a member of the Oakland Casting Club where I work to perfect my Spey casting, while also trying my hand at constructing bamboo fly rods. I am also a great cook!
Board of Directors